Clutch-pulley



PATENTED FEB. 23, 1904.

W. J. HILLIARD. ULUTGH PULLEY.

I APPLIOATION HLED MAR. 24, 1903.

ANo. 753,073.

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' W.J. HILLIARD.;

CLUTCH PULLEY.

APPLICATION FILED MARA 24, i903.

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UNITED STATES Patented February 23, 1904.

wrLLinM J. HILLIAED, oF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

srncrFroA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 753,073, datedlrprfuymg.

Application filed March 24, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known th. t I, WILLIAM J. HILLIARD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improve-A ments in Clutch-Pulleys,of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description.

My invention relates to improvements in clutch-pulleys adapted for useon shafts and machinery; and one object that I have in view is theprovision of a simple and compact device which embodies in a singlestructure the parts necessary to drive or to be driven by a belt and tomake the belt member fast or loose with a shaft.

A further object is to provide the pulley,A

with means by which the loose member may be made fast automatically withthe shaft on the rotation `of the latter, thus making provision fortaking up the load gradually and by the progressive action of theclutch, such form of the pulley being especially useful inl connectionwith gas-engines and other forms of machines.

Further objects and advantages of the in vention will appear in thecourse of the subjoined description, and the novelty will be defined bythe annexed claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specication, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clutch-pulley constructed inaccordance with my invention and showing the same equipped with meansfor automatically making the loose member fast with the shaft member.Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section on the line 2 :2- of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a vertical sectional elevation taken centrally through theconstruction shown by Fig. 4, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on theline 4 4 of Fig. 1.

A designates the fast or revoluble member, and B is the loose or idlemember.

The fast member A is provided with an elongated hub or sleeve 5, adaptedto be fastened in any suitable way to a shaft for the purpose ofrotating therewith. This fast member has a web 6 extending outwardlyfrom the hub and joined with a rim portion 7. The rim Serial No.149,328. (No modeld 7 is provided with an annular groove or channel 8,which accommodates a series of bearing-rollers 9, the latterv havingsuitable stubaXles 10, whichare mounted in any suitable way in said rimof the fast member A. As shown by Fig. 1, I employ a series of fourrollers 9, which are spaced equidistant around the periphery ofA themember and lie partly within the annular channel 8 thereof, the rollersprojecting beyond the periphery of said member A. It is evident,however, that the number of rollers employed in the series may beincreased, although in Figs. l and '2 I have only shown the series offour rollers, the latter being sufficient to properly support the pulleymember B when it runs idly on the member A.

The loose pulley member B is shown by Fig. 2 as consisting ofcomplemental sections 11 12, which are assembled in matching relationand are secured firmly together by a plurality of through-bolts 13, thesectional construction of said pulley member facilitating itsapplication to the rim and the rollers of the fast member A. The partscomprising the loose pulley member are provided at their inner edges andin their opposing faces with matching recesses adapted to form anannular track or way 14, in which is received the pro-l jecting portionsof the rollers 9, constituting the series on the fast pulley member A.The inner edge of the sectional loose pulley member B is disposed quiteclose to the periphery of the rim 7 forming the part of the member A,and this member B issustained loosely in place around the member A bythe series of rollers 9, which lit in the annular track 14, provided inthe inner edge of said member B, said rollers preventing lateraldisplacement of one member relatively to the other.

The member A is furthermore provided in its web and the rim with aseries of radial openings l5, formed in the member and alternating withthe rollers 9 of the series. These radial openings accommodote the shoes16, which are fitted snugly in the openings and are free to have alimited radial movement therein. Each shoe is forked, bifurcated, orsplit for a part of its length, as shown by Figs. 2 and 4, in

the same being equidistantly IOO order that the shoe may straddle orembrace the annular channel 8, which is provided in the rim, and theseshoes are provided at their outer ends with friction-faces 17, which aredisposed in opposing relation to the inner edges of the parts 11 12,comprising the idle member B. These friction-faces may consist' oflayers of compressed fiber or any other suitable material adapted tohave the proper amount of frictional engagement with the idle member B,and said friction-faces are movable radially with the shoes relativelyto said idle member.

rlfhrough the forked shoes eXtend the bridgeplates 18, which arefastened to the rim portion of the member A and afford the tracksurfacesfor the travel of the rollers 9 in case it is desired to allow theserollers to run idly in the coincident channels 8 14 of the members A B.These'bridge-plates have arcuate outer edges disposed flush with thebottom of the channel 8 in the rim, as indicated more clearly by Fig. 3.

Between the Xed bridge-plates 18 and the radially-movable shoes 16 aredisposed the coiled springs 19, which tend to normally impel the shoesinwardly with respect to the member A, and thus withdraw thefrictionfaces 17 from engagement with the member B.

I will now proceed to describe the means by which the shoes areautomatically and positively moved radially in outward directions. rIheweb 6 of the member A is provided with transverse slots 20, and acrossthese slots are disposed the radially-movable stems 21, each having acoarse multiple thread 22 for a part of its length and terminating in ahead 23 at its outer end. A portion of each stem 21 plays loosely in aguide sleeve or socket 24, provided in the hub portion 5 of the memberA, each stem being free to rotate axially and to have a radial movement.In each slot 2O of the web is arranged a two-part or split nut 25, whichwhen closed is adapted to have its threads engage with the male threads22 of the stem. The members or parts of the divided nut are embraced bythe bifurcated end 26 of a lever 27, the latter being fulcrumed on asuitable pin or bolt 28, supported on the member A. The arms 26, formedby the bifurcation of the lever, are provided with cam-slots 29, whichare engaged by the pins or studs 30, attached to the members of the nut25, and when the member A is in motion the centrifugal force developedby said member throws the lever 27 in outward direction, thus imposingthe action of the levers on the studs and allowing the members of thenut to close, so as to have engagement with the threaded stems 21. Eachlever 27 is provided with a weight 31, and in the drawings I have shownthe fast member A as having two of these levers adapted to control alike number of nuts which actuate the stems 2l, placed on diametricallyopposite sides of the pulley. Each stem is'furthermore provided with aratchet 32, which is engaged by a lever 33, the latter fitting looselyon the stem to turn freely thereon and extending outwardly from thepulley member A, so as to iit in an opening 34,@which is provided in aslidable bar 35. One of these slidable bars is used in connection witheach stem, and each bar is loosely held for endwise movement in a pairof guide-lugs 36, provided on one face of the member A. The bar 35 has ashoulder 37, against which acts one end of a coil impelling-spring 38,the other end of which is seated against one lug 36. The free end ofeach slidable bar has a curved or beveled nose 39, and this bar isnormally impelled by the spring 38 in one direction, so that its nosewill ride against the projecting edge of a cam-plate 40, carried by theidle member B. This cam-plate is loosely fitted on one of thethrough-bolts 13, and it is provided with a curved slot 41, whichloosely receives another of the bolts 13 of the series. The plate 40 isheld adjustably in position by the bolts; but it should be adjustablefor one edge or corner thereof to project beyond the inner edge of themember B, to which said plate is attached. Between the head 23 of eachstem and the inner end of one of the shoes is interposed a coil-spring42, which serves to return the stem to its normal position; but on theoutward movement of the stem the spring is compressed and imparts a likemovement to the shoe 15.

With the parts in their normal positions the stems 21 are pressed towardthe hub of the member A by the springs 42, and the weighted levers 27are thrown inwardly in order to re- I oo lease the members of the nutsfrom engagement with the threaded portions of the stems. The member Arotates with the shaft of an engine or other part of machinery, whilethe member B remains at rest, owing to its engagement with the beltwhich is to be driven. On the rotation of the member A the levers 27move outwardly by the centrifugal energy developed by said member,andthese levers turn on their fulcra 28 to make the cam-slots 29 act onthe pins 30, thus securing the desired closing of the nuts 25. The bars35 rotate with the member A, and as they pass the camplates 40 thesebars are moved inwardly against the energy of the springs 38. Bypressing the bars 35 backwardly the levers 33 are moved in order to turnthe ratchets 32 and impart like movement to the stems 31. rIhe continuedrotation of the pulley member A imparts a progressive step-by-stepmovement 1 to the stems 21, which work in the closed nuts 25, thusgradually moving the stems 21 in radial directions against the shoes 16.The shoes are thus forced outward to press the friction-faces 17 againstthe member B, and the continued radial movement of the stems under theaction of the feed mechanism here- IIO tofore described operatestoclutch the member B tightly to the member A, whereby the load isgradually taken up and the member B is closed to rotate with' the memberA.

r[he pulley is also equipped with means for moving the shoes radially,such means being adapted for operation by hand. The pulley may also beequipped with an increased numbe'r of rollers 9, which are fittedloosely in the coincident channels of the two members, and these rollersare adapted to travel on the bottom of the channel 8 and on thebridgeplates 18. The shoes 16 are four in number, and two of these shoesare provided with inwardly-extending stems 16, (See Figs. 3 and 4.)These stems projectinto radial slots 43, which are provided in the webof the member A, and in the slots are formed or secured the bearing-lugs44. The lugs are disposed in pairs to receive pintles 45 and anadjustable thrust-block 46, the latter itting in recesses 47, which areprovided at the knees of angular levers 48, each lever having anoffstanding arm 49, which carries an antifriction-roller 50. The leversare disposedA on opposite sides of the hub and extend outwardly from thepulley. (See Fig. 4.) Each lever is provided with a slot or opening 51at a point intermediate of its length, and through this slot passes afulcrum-bolt 52, which is screwed into the hub, said bolt having a nut53 and supporting the coiled spring 54, which fits in a socket 55,provided in the lever. The lever is held loosely on the fixed bolt andpressed against the nut 53 by the action of the spring 52.

Said lever is also provided with a take-up screw 56, which finds athreaded bearing in the inner portion of the lever and which actsagainst the pivoted block 46 in a way to take up the lost motion due towear of the parts.

Any suitable means may be provided for simultaneously moving the pair oflevers 48 in one direction and making the rollers 50 ride against thestems 16u of the shoes, thus moving the latter outwardly against theenergy of the springs 19 and making the friction-faces 17 of the shoesengage with the member B. By reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that inthe normal positions of the levers 48 the rollers 50 lie a little to oneside of the stems 16 on the shoes; but when the outer ends of the levers48 are pressed apart these inner arms 49 are moved, so as to make therollers 50 lie against the stems 16EL and force the shoes radially inoutward directions, thus making the friction-faces 17 press forciblyagainst the inner edge of the member B. The desired movement of thelevers 48 may be effected by the employment of a slidable member on lashaft, such as a cone adapted to ride against the levers 48 and to bechanged inV position-by the operation of asuitable shifting lever.

The pulley of the form shown by Figs. 3 and 4 is adapted for use on aline-shaft or the shaft of an engine, whereas the pulley equipped as inFigs. 1 and 2 may be advantageously employed on the driving-shaft of agas-engine or other motor. Infact, the pulley of Figs. 1 and 2 may beemployed wherever it is desired to have the load gradually taken up` bythe application of the clutch mechanism forming a part of a loosepulley.

The construction of the pulley may be modilied within wide limits; 'butwhere the pulley is to be usedas a tight and loose pulley alternativelyI prefer to employ acontinuous series of rollers between the fast andloose members, as indicated in Fig. 3, thus equalizing the bearing andminimizing the friction of the member B on the member A.

-My improved construction obviates the necessity of oiling the bearingsof pulleys and wholly overcomes the cutting or wearing out of the hubwhere it engages with the shaft, because there is no friction betweenthe shaft and the pulley, and the parts cannot become clogged or worn.not slip in the rotary motion of the pulley, because any slipping willinsure the'rotation of the screw, which thereby tightens the parts andincreases the frictional engagement of the shoes with the loose member.

Any suitable means may be associated with the automatic devices forworking them positively, such as a hand-lever adapted to engage with thearms or levers 27.

Having thus described my invention, claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent- 1. A clutch-pulley having a fast member, a loose member,coincident channels in the opposing surfaces of said members, a seriesof rollers in said channels of the members, forked shoes slidablymounted in the fast member to straddle the roller-channel and havingfaces adapted to engage the inner surface of the loose member, and meansfor adjusting said shoes.

2. .A clutch-pulley having fast and loose members provided in theiropposing faces with coincident channels, bearing-rollers fitted in saidchannels and supportingthe loose mem- The clutch mechanism can- IOC) IIO

ber on the fast member and against lateral displacement thereon, forkedshoes mounted for radial movement on the fast, member and straddling theroller channel therein, said shoes having divided friction-facespresented to the loose member, and means for adjusting said shoes.

3. A clutch-pulley having fast and loose members, movable shoes carriedbythe fast member, means also carried by the fast member for moving saidshoes into engagement with vthe loose member, and cooperating devicesmounted on the fast and loose members for automatically actuating theshoe-'adjusting means, whereby the rotation of one member brings certainof said cooperating devices into engagement with other parts of thecoperating devices on the other member for automatically clutching'thepulley members one to the other.

4. lA clutch-pulley having fast and loose members, friction-shoes on thefast member, threaded stems for moving said shoes, divided nuts adaptedfor engagement with said stems, means operable by the rotation of thefast member for closing said nuts around the stems, and cooperatingdevices on the fast and loose members and operable by the rotation ofthe fast member for rotating the stems in the nuts, whereby the stemsare moved radially and adjust the shoes automatically.

5. A clutch-pulley having fast and loose members, shoes on the fastmember, threaded stems for moving said shoes, nuts in which the stemswork, ratchets on' the stems, slidable bars on the fast members, leversengaging the bars and the ratchets, and tappets carried by the loosemember in the path of the slidable bars.

6. A clutch-pulley having fast and loose members, ball-bearings betweensaid members, forked shoes having radial stems associated therewith andarranged to straddle the ball-bearings for presentation to the loosemember, and means engaging said stems for moving the shoes radially.

7. A clutch-pulley having a shaft member, a loose member, forked shoesmovable radially in the shaft member, bridge-plates carried by the,shaft member and extending through said shoes, bearing-rollers fitted tothe members and adapted to ride on the bridge-plates, and means formoving said shoesv into frictional engagement with the loose member.

8. A clutch-pulley having a shaft member provided with a channel, aloose member consisting of complemental sections united laterally tocomplete said member and produce an internal channel which coincideswith the channel of said shaft member, bearing-rollers fitted in saidchannels of the members, forked shoes mounted in the shaft member,bridge-plates spanning the shoes and affording track-surfaces for therollers, and means for adjusting the shoes.

9. Aclutch-pulley having ashaft member, a loose member, radially-movableshoes, threaded stems to move the shoes outwardly, nuts in which saidstems work, and means for imparting a step-by-step rotation to the stemson the rotation of the shaft member.

lO. A clutch-pulley having a shaft member, a loose member, shoes movableradially in the shaft member, stems engaging said shoes, divided nuts inwhich the stems are arranged to work, centrifugal levers connected withsaid nuts to automatically open the same on the stoppage of the shaftmember, and means for imparting a step-by-step movement to said stems.

11. A clutch-pulley having a shaft member, a loose member,radially-movable shoes on the shaft member, threaded stems provided withratchets and adapted to engage with said shoes, slides carried by theshaft member and connected operatively with the ratchets of the stems,and cams on the loose member and in the path of said slides.`

12. A clutch-pulley having a shaft member, a loose member,friction-shoes on said shaft member, threaded stems arranged to impelthe shoes outwardly, a divided nut engaging with each threaded stem,weighted levers connected with said divided nuts, and means forimparting a step-by-step rotation to the stems on the rotary motion ofthe shaft member.

13. In a clutch-pulley, the combination with a shoe, of a threaded stem,a divided nut adapted for engagement with said stem, a lever having armsprovided with cam-slots, and projections on the members of the nut andfitting in said cam-slots of the levers.

14C. In a clutch-pulley, the combination with fast and loose members,and a shoe carried by one member and adapted for engagement with theother member, of a stem, a nut in which the stem works,aratchet on saidstem, aratchetlever engaging with said ratchet,a bar slid ably fitted onthe shaft member and engaging with the ratchet member, a spring forimpelling said bar in one direction, and an adjustable cam carried bythe loose member in the path of said bar.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM J. HILLIARD.

Witnesses:

BERTRAND W. NYE, SYLVEEN V. NYE.

